So a mate of mine just gave me his Front Runner roof rack, he used to have a 2007 LWB GU. I have a 2012 GU. I believe that Nissan have at sometime changed the design of the roof rain gutters.

They are about 20 degrees upturned now. This does not allow the clamps to hold, initially we were able to fix the rack, but it is not secure for offroad use, and also with loading.
As you can see on the image, the clamps refuse to hold securely. As the bottom threaded clamp is torqued, the clamp L-shape part slides off.

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I was wondering if anyone here has tried the newer style clamps from Front runner on these newly designed rain gutters from Nissan?

I would like to avoid drilling holes on the car, for a couple of reasons.

I have tried moving the legs out to the edge of the gutter, but that really made it worst, and only 3 out of the 6 clamps were holding tension, finally had to remove the whole rack last night until I come by a solution. The 20 degree upturn on the gutter is just slipping too much, have tried to put rubber underneath, an old engine hose was the donor material cut to size, but the threaded clamp just slides off with each turn of the nut.

If I look at the bracket that holds onto the underside of the rail, it looks like a "homemade" conversion. On my roof rack the bolt that runs in the "tube" that the nut fastens up onto doesn't have the same amount of play in it as it looks like you have in yours. Mine is a 1999 model GU (Y61) and I think my rails are also slightly upturned ( will have to check though) and mime clamps solidly onto the rail. I'll take a pic tonight and post it here for you to look at. My roof rack isn't a fromt runner, but an African Outback, but the principle remains the same.

I had a simmilar front runner model with same issues modified the bracket with tube below the nut to stiffen it worked well dont have picks becouse I dont have the rack any more. Also there is a allen key grup screw to help it towards the car

Tinus lotz wrote:I had a simmilar front runner model with same issues modified the bracket with tube below the nut to stiffen it worked well dont have picks becouse I dont have the rack any more. Also there is a allen key grup screw to help it towards the car

Tube below the nut, is that a tube sliding over the threaded part of the bottom clamp, I assume that this gives more rigidity to the threaded rod area, but how does this stop the L shampe plate moving out?

On the side of that foot that comes down, is a allan keay headed bolt [about 5mm circ] LOOSEN that FIRST
Then put that lat clap underneath the gutter -- Then tighten the "leg" nut untill the clamp STARTS grabbing on the gutter -- NOW take that allan key [size 6 i think] and tighten that little bolt on the side untill it grips .. not using force] NOW final tiughten the top nut and fianl the allan key tightne [HAND tighten]

ALSO -- work on opposite side alternately -- Then you have a very STRONG roofrack -- one I loaded on Thor with almost 200 Kg and did teh Namib desert crossing [same gutter / same rails/ same Roof carrier]

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O K -- what Oompi was trying to say == That ALAN Key bolt must start as loose -- BUT befor the top nut starts pulling the clamp away from the gutter, you must tighten that little allan key bolt .. untilli it holds that 8mm bolt in place -- THEN you tighten on top, the final again, tighten the alan key thingy.

Note of note. Take 15mm standard green water hose PLASTIC, cut just about the length of the clamp foot. Slit open top to botttom and fit over the steel foot that stands inside the gutter --
Prevents rattles, prevents RUST en prevents damage to paint and gutter ..

Last edited by Kagiso II on 01 Oct 2014 14:32, edited 1 time in total.

Don't bring God down to your level of faith ... bring your faith up to His level!